Speaking from a podium at Cowboys Stadium, Jones told reporters that he deliberately opted to make the announcement at the stadium, rather than the team headquarters at Valley Ranch, where press conferences are usually held, to drive the theme of the day home.

“We’re changing things up,” Jones said. “So it’s very deliberate that we’re having our announcement today with the backdrop of our stadium, the backdrop of our future, the backdrop of where we want special things to happen, to make this announcement.”

Of course, the announcement came as no great shock, as, if it wasn’t abundantly clear in the days leading up to Thursday, ESPN began reporting that the Garrett deal was done this morning, hours before the team’s 1:30 P.M. press conference. Garrett, the first head coach in the history of the franchise to have played for the team, drew on his experience with the team in his first remarks to the media since losing the interim tag.

“I’m very familiar with this organization, having played here, having been an assistant coach here, and for the last half of this season, being the interim head coach,” Garrett said. “I have tremendous respect, appreciation for the history and tradition that goes with this organization, and all the great players, coaches and teams that have gone before us.

“I was fortunate to be on teams here in the nineties that went to the top of the National Football League--were the best--and I understand how those teams played. I like to refer to it as the “Cowboy way.” When I think about those teams and the level we played at and how we went about it each and every day, those are some of the models I think about for this football team.”